Chemical effects
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2.3 Special assessment values and indicators for
indoor workplaces
2.3.1 Carbon dioxide
The carbon dioxide concentration indoors is considered a key
indicator of adequate air quality when humans themselves are
the main source of emissions and other sources are of
secondary importance. In this context, the CO2 concentration
is also a measure of the effectiveness of room ventilation.
According to ASR A3.6 Ventilation [4], the following values are
to be used to assess the carbon dioxide concentration:
• Carbon dioxide concentration below 1 000
ppm: hygienically safe
• Carbon dioxide concentration between 1 000 and
2 000 ppm: hygienically conspicuous
• Carbon dioxide concentration above 2 000
ppm: hygienically unacceptable
When exceeding the instantaneous concentration of
1 000 ppm carbon dioxide should be ventilated. If a value of
2000 ppm is exceeded, ventilation is required.
Are the ventilation measures (if necessary introduction of a
136
ventilation plan) is not sufficient to fall below the guide
value of 2000 ppm, further organizational, ventilation or
constructional measures are required.
These include, for example, reducing the number of people in
the room or installing technically controlled ventilation.
2.3.2 Volatile organic compounds
Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)
An important parameter for assessing indoor air quality is the
sum of volatile organic compounds in the boiling range 50 to 260
°C, referred to as TVOC. The boiling range largely comprises the
substances that are ana- lyzed on a non-polar column in the
elution range between
n-hexane and n-hexadecane are detectable [21].
Although there are no proven dose-response relationships and
TVOC concentrations are not suitable as the sole criterion for a
health assessment of indoor air quality, TVOC concentrations
can nevertheless be used to assess impairments caused by
VOCs in indoor air. For example, it can be seen that the
likelihood of the occurrence of irritant effects and odor
perceptions increases with increasing TVOC concentrations. The
Committee for Indoor Air Quality Guidelines recommends
using the five-stage concept of Seifert from 1999 for the
assessment of TVOC concentrations (see Table 1) [21].

Table 1:
Hygienic evaluation of TVOC levels and resulting recommendations for action [21].
Stage Concentration
1 ≤ 0.3 mg/m³
2 > 0.3 to 1 mg/m³
3 > 1 to 3 mg/m³
4 > 3 to 10 mg/m³
5 > 10 mg/m³
Hygienic evaluation
Hygienically safe.
I. d. R. no complaints.
Hygienically still harmless, as far as no
guideline values are exceeded for individual substances
or groups of substances.
In individual cases, complaints or odor perceptions,
e.g. after minor renovation measures or new
furnishings in recent weeks.
Hygienically conspicuous.
Use acceptable only for a limited time (< 12 months)
for rooms that are used regularly.
Within approximately six months, the TVOC
concentration should be reduced significantly below
the TVOC value measured initially.
Cases with complaints or odor perceptions,
z. e.g. after major renovation work.
Hygienically questionable.
Use acceptable only for a limited time (< 1 month) for
rooms that are used regularly.
The TVOC concentration should be reduced below 3
mg/m³ within one month.
Cases with accumulation of complaints or odor
perceptions, e.g. after major renovation work.
Hygienically unacceptable.
Avoid use of space as far as possible. At most, a stay
is permissible per day for a limited period of time. At
values above 25 mg/m³, use of the room must be
avoided.
The TVOC concentration should be reduced below 3
mg/m³ within one month.
Usually complaints and odor perceptions, e.g. after
misuse, accidents.
Chemical effects
Recommendat
ions
No further action.
Ventilate sufficiently, especially after renovation work.
Determine sources of VOCs (e.g. walk-through of the
room). Check the use of plaster and cleaning agents.
Take follow-up measurements to check if guideline values
are exceeded under conditions of use.
Check immediately if reference values are exceeded by
re-measurement under conditions of use. Check
conspicuous reference value exceedances for health
relevance.
In any case: search for sources and check ventilation
behavior: ventilate intensively and, if necessary, define
usage and ventilation conditions.
Control measurement or re-measurement
recommended after approx. one month (under
conditions of use).
If, despite the efforts described above, the TVOC
concentration remains above 1 mg/m3 after 12 months,
adequate remediation measures must be included in
further planning.
Check immediately if reference values are exceeded by
re-measurement under conditions of use. Check
conspicuous reference value exceedances for health
relevance. Toxicological evaluation of individual
substances or substance groups required.
In any case: carry out source search and ventilate
intensively and, if necessary, determine conditions of
use and ventilation and arrange for suitable
minimization measures. A possibly necessary stay is
only tolerable with a time restriction per day over a
maximum period to be specified by the health
authority (per day by the hour/time-limited).
Control measurement or re-measurement
recommended after approx. one month (under
conditions of use).
If after one month, despite the efforts described
above, the TVOC concentration is still above 3 mg/m³,
adequate remediation measures must be included in
further planning.
Check immediately if reference values are exceeded by
re-measurement under conditions of use. Check
conspicuous reference value exceedances for health
relevance. Toxicological evaluation of individual
substances or substance groups required.
In any case: carry out source search and ventilate
intensively and determine conditions of use and
ventilation and arrange for suitable minimization
measures. A possibly necessary stay is only tolerable
with a time restriction per day over a maximum
period to be specified by the health department (per
day by the hour/time-limited).
Control measurement or re-measurement
recommended after approx. one month (under
conditions of use).
If the concentration falls below 10 mg/m³ in the
period under consideration due to minimization
measures, but a concentration of 3 mg/m³ is still
exceeded, the recommended measures apply as
under level 4. If the TVOC concentration is still above
10 mg/m³ after one month despite the efforts
described, the room should not be used and adequate
remediation measures must be initiated.
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Chemical effects

Derivation of reference values for individual substances Table 2:

Indoor workplace reference values of the accident insurance institutions
For substances for which no guideline values exist to date,
Indoor workstation-
statistically derived reference values for individual substances can
Connection Reference
be used for evaluation. In accordance with an internationally value
recognized convention, the 95th percentile value of a sufficiently (mg/m³)
large data collective is referred to as the reference value. Here TVOC 1
it is assumed without toxicological evaluation that the Hydrocarbon mixtures,
0,07
"normal condition" encountered in the examined rooms and aliphatic (C9 to C14)
not giving rise to illnesses and complaints can be generally Alkanes
accepted. Reference values - in contrast to guide values - do n-Heptane 0,02
not allow an assessment of the health hazard. If the
n-octane 0,01
reference values are undershot, this does not necessarily
mean that there are no health risks. n-Nonan 0,01
health hazard is present. Conversely, an exceedance of these n-Decan 0,01
values does not automatically indicate a hazard [21]. However, a n-Undecan 0,02
significant exceedance of the value can be an indication that
n-Dodecane 0,01
emission sources are present in the room which may possibly
n-Tridecan 0,01
lead to health impairments.
n-tetradecane 0,01
A prerequisite for the application of reference values is the n-pentadecane 0,01
comparability of the reference areas and the respective Aromatic compounds
interior under consideration. As decisive parameters of
Toluene 0,04
comparability are the equipment and the use
of the interior, the measurement procedure and the Ethylbenzene 0,01
measurement strategy should be highlighted. o-Xylene 0,01
m-Xylene 0,02
Reference values for the assessment of indoor workplaces p-Xylene 0,01
(e.g. offices)
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0,01

In 2004, reference values for the assessment of indoor Styrene 0,01

workplaces (indoor workplace reference values, IRW) were Alcohols
published for the first time based on measurement data from Butan-1-ol 0,04
the accident insurance institutions [22]. These values were 2-ethylhexan-1-ol 0,02
reviewed in 2011 and updated on the basis of a renewed
Ketones
statistical evaluation of all measurement data documented in
the IFA exposure database MEGA up to September 2010 [23]. Butanone 0,01
Ester
For the statistical evaluation, only measurement data were Ethyl acetate 0,02
considered that were determined stationarily in office rooms
n-Butyl acetate 0,02
without mechanical ventilation and for which the sampling
Ether
duration corresponded to the specifications of the
measurement methods [24; 25]. 2-Butoxyethanol 0,01
2-Phenoxyethanol 0,01
Since, as a rule, more than 700 measured values per Terpenes
connection were evaluated, statistical validation is ensured.
α-Pinene 0,02
Contrary to the internationally applicable convention, the
statutory accident insurance institutions use the lower 90th Lime 0,03
percentile instead of the 95th percentile to derive reference 3-Caren 0,01
values in the interests of prevention. In general, the values Aldehyde
were rounded to two decimal places. The indoor workplace s
reference values derived in 2011 are summarized in Table 2. Formaldehyde 0,06
They are only valid if the measurement program "Indoor Acetaldehyde 0,05
measurements" described in the report "Indoor workplaces -
Hexanal 0,03
recommended procedure for determining the working
Siloxanes
environment" [26] is applied, including the associated
measurement strategy. Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3) 0,03
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane
0,02
(D4)
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane
0,06
(D5)

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Reference values for the assessment of classrooms Table 3:

Classroom reference values of the accident insurance institutions [28].
From 2004 to 2009, a project was carried out to determine the
concentrations of aldehydes and VOCs in unpolluted Connection Classroom reference value
(mg/m³)
The results of the study were collected in classrooms in
schools in North Rhine-Westphalia [27]. A total of 421 rooms TVOC 0,68
in 119 schools were investigated. The measurement procedure Hydrocarbon mixtures, ali- phatic (C9 0,03
and the analytics are comparable with the MGU measurement to C )14
program "Indoor measurements". Classroom reference values Alkanes
were derived from the measurement data obtained in analogy n-Heptane 0,01
to the procedure for indoor workplace reference values [28].
n-Undecan 0,01
These are summarized in Table 3.
n-Dodecane 0,01
n-Tridecan 0,01
Aromatic compounds
Toluene 0,03
Ethylbenzene 0,01
Xylene (all isomers) 0,02
m-Xylene 0,01
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0,01
Styrene 0,01
Phenol 0,01
Alcohols
Butan-1-ol 0,03
2-ethylhexan-1-ol 0,02
Ketones
Butanone 0,01
Ester
Ethyl acetate 0,01
n-Butyl acetate 0,01
Ether
2-Butoxyethanol 0,02
2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethanol 0,03
2-Phenoxyethanol 0,02
Terpenes
α-Pinene 0,02
Lime 0,02
3-Caren 0,01
Aldehyde
s
Formaldehyde 0,06
Acetaldehyde 0,05
Hexanal 0,02
Siloxanes
Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3) 0,03
Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) 0,02
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) 0,02

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Chemical effects

Single substance evaluation based on other measurement
methods
The former Federal Health Office pioneered the derivation of
reference values for individual substances with its first
environmental survey in 1985/86 [17]. In the meantime, the
fourth environmental survey, the Kinder-Umwelt-Survey (KUS)
2003/06, has been conducted by the Federal Environment
Agency.
leads. In 2010, based on this survey, results on volatile organic
compounds in indoor air in households with children in Germany
were published [29]. For this purpose, the mean concentrations of
chemical pollutants in the living environment of 555 children were
determined using passive samplers over a period of one week (see
Table 4).

Table 4:
Volatile organic compounds in mg/m³ in indoor air in 555 households with three- to 14-year-old children in Germany, limit of quantification: 0.001 mg/m³
[29].

Connection n < BG Concentrations (mg/m³)

90-% value 95-% value
TVOC 0,8 1,1
Alkanes
n-Heptane 204 0,0127 0,0228
n-octane 257 0,0045 0,0103
n-Nonan 293 0,0052 0,0121
n-Decan 222 0,0082 0,0149
n-Undecan 220 0,0098 0,0148
n-Dodecane 255 0,0048 0,0079
n-Tridecan 323 0,0027 0,0042
n-tetradecane 86 0,0041 0,0054
n-pentadecane 204 0,0027 0,0037
n-Hexadecane 298 0,0019 0,0023
n-Heptadecane 427 0,0014 0,002
n-octadecane 516 <0,0010 0,002
Cyclohexane 152 0,0156 0,0391
Methylcyclohexane 266 0,0104 0,0265
Σ 14 Alkanes 0,0972 0,158
Aromatic compounds
Benzene 137 0,0057 0,0077
Toluene 0 0,0472 0,0576
Ethylbenzene 179 0,0046 0,0068
m-, p-xylene 52 0,0111 0,016
o-Xylene 241 0,0041 0,0055
m-, o-, p-xylene 0,015 0,0212
Isopropylbenzene 516 <0,001 0,0013
n-Propylbenzene 454 0,0017 0,0026
Iso- and n-propylbenzene 0,0014 0,0026
2-ethyltoluene 475 0,0016 0,0023
3-Ethyltoluene 341 0,0033 0,0055
4-ethyltoluene 475 0,0014 0,0026
3- and 4-ethyltoluene 0,0051 0,0083
1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene 446 0,0019 0,0029
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 177 0,0058 0,0103
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 449 0,00017 0,0029
Styrene 329 0,0028 0,0048
Naphthalene 517 <0,001 0,0012

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4-Phenylcyclohexene 555 - -
Σ 16 aromatic compounds 0,0887 0,123
Connection n < BG Concentrations (mg/m³)
90-% value 95-% value
Halogenated compounds
1,1,1-Trichloroethane 528 < 0,001 <0,001
Trichloroethene 534 < 0,001 <0,001
Perchloroethene 517 < 0,001 0,0014
1,4-Dichlorobenzene 548 < 0,001 <0,001
Σ 4 halogen-containing compounds 0,0036 0,0054
Oxygenated compounds
Ethyl acetate 12 0,047 0,0708
Butyl acetate 64 0,018 0,0307
1-Methoxy-2-propanol acetate 426 0,002 0,0036
Methyl ethyl ketone 519 < 0,0075 0,0092
Methyl isobutyl ketone 407 0,0019 0,0026
1-Butanol 10 0,0129 0,0176
Isobutanol 505 < 0,0035 0,0049
2-Methoxyethanol 528 < 0,001 0,0012
2-ethoxyethanol 502 < 0,001 0,0015
2-Butoxyethanol 215 0,0058 0,0103
2-Butoxyethoxy-ethanol 374 0,0027 0,006
2-Phenoxyethanol 357 0,0028 0,0037
1-Methoxy-2-propanol 198 0,0053 0,0084
1-Butoxy-2-propanol 295 0,0076 0,0128
1-Phenoxy-2-propanol 544 < 0,001 <0,001
2-ethyl-1-hexanol 86 0,0075 0,0114
Dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether 457 0,0016 0,0032
Texanol 407 0,002 0,0028
TXIB 227 0,004 0,0055
Σ 19 oxygenated compounds 0,130 0,194
Terpenes
α-Pinene 8 0,047 0,0676
β-Pinene 240 0,0042 0,0083
Lime 38 0,0714 0,103
3-Caren 141 0,0146 0,0227
Longifolen 465 0,0013 0,0018
Σ 5 terpenes 0,123 0,184
Aldehydes
Formaldehyde 0 0,041 0,0477
Acetaldehyde 8 0,0372 0,0503
Propanal 0 0,0048 0,0061
Butanal 4 0,0059 0,0081
Pentanal 7 0,0072 0,0106
Hexanal 0 0,0212 0,030
Heptanal 68 0,0024 0,003
Octanal 3 0,0032 0,0036
Nonanal 0 0,0125 0,0147
Decanal 17 0,0048 0,0055
Undecanal 327 0,0023 0,0031
Furfural 21 0,002 0,0028
Benzaldehyde 13 0,0056 0,0066
Isovaleraldehyde 384 0,0031 0,0039
Methylglyoxal 295 0,0141 0,0178

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Σ 11 Aldehydes (formaldehyde to undecanal) 0,122 0,155

Σ 15 Aldehydes (formaldehyde to methylglyoxal) 0,135 0,170

142

In addition, there are further publications by various measuring
institutes which have derived values for the assessment of
indoor air from their own data (e.g. from cases of damage) [e.g.
30]. These investigations were carried out in various indoor
spaces, including living rooms.
2.3.3 Dusts
For the assessment of possible health hazards due to dust
exposure, dust fractions depending on the particle size are
used. The fractions "inhalable dust" (E-fraction) and "inhalable
dust" (F-fraction) are commonly used in occupational safety.
"respirable dust" (alveolar fraction, A fraction) do not exactly
coincide with the fractions PM10 (particulate matter) and PM2.5
commonly used in the field of environmental protection.
This is understood to be, in a first approximation, the sum of all the
Suspended dust particles with a diameter of up to 10 µm and up
to 2.5 µm [31].
For indoor workplaces, it is recommended to use the fractions
PM2.5 and PM10 defined in environmental protection for the
assessment of dust exposure, since the concentrations are
mainly caused by the outdoor air and corresponding
assessment values are available for this. Thus, the Committee
for Indoor Guideline Values (formerly the Ad Hoc Working
Group on Indoor Guideline Values) proposes that, in the absence
of combustibles, the following values be applied
processes (e.g. tobacco smoke), the guideline value for
particulate matter of the fraction PM2.5 should be 25 µg/m³, which
is the daily value specified by the World Health Organization [32].
For the fraction PM10 , on the other hand, the committee does
not propose an assessment standard. It justifies this on the
grounds that indoor concentrations for this fraction are
significantly higher than those in outdoor air. This means that
the main sources for this particle fraction are to be found
indoors. Since the composition of this fraction is not known in
more detail, no conclusive assessment can be made [32].
In general, care should be taken to ensure that the dust
concentration related to the PM10 fraction does not exceed
the EU dust limit value [8] for tropospheric air of 50 µg/m³.
2.4 Literature
[1] Law on the implementation of occupational health and
safety measures to improve the safety and health of
employees at work (Occupational Health and Safety Act
- ArbSchG) of August 7, 1996.
BGBl. I (1996), p. 1246; as amended. BGBl. I (2015), p.
1474
[2] Ordinance on Workplaces (Arbeitsstättenverordnung -
ArbStättV) of August 12, 2004. BGBl. I (2004),
p. 2179; as amended. BGBl. I (2016), p. 2681
[3] Ordinance on Protection against Hazardous Substances
(GefStoffV) of November 26, 2010. BGBl. I (2010), p.
1643; perm. amend. BGBl. I (2016), p. 2549
Chemical effects
[4] Technical rules for workplaces: Ventilation (ASR A3.6).
GMBl. (2012), p. 92; am. GMBl. (2017), p. 10
[5] Act on Protection against Harmful Effects on the
Environment Caused by Air Pollution, Noise, Vibrations
and Similar Processes (Federal Immission Control Act -
BImSchG) of May 17, 2013. BGBl. I (2013), p. 1274;
perm. amend. BGBl. I (2016), p. 2749
[6] Committee for Indoor Guideline Values. Published by:
Umweltbundes- amt, Dessau-Roßlau.
http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/gesundheit/
kommissionen-arbeitsgruppen/ausschuss-fuer-innen-
raumrichtwerte-vormals-ad-hoc
[7] Announcement of the Federal Environment Agency:
Health-hygienic assessment of odorous substances in
indoor air with the aid of odor guide values. Bundesge-
sundheitsbl. Gesundheitsforsch. Gesundheitsschutz 57
(2014) No. 1, pp. 148-153.
[8] Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and
cleaner air for Europe. OJ EC No. L 152 (2008), p. 1; am.
Directive 2015/1480/EU OJ EC No. L 226 (2015), p. 4.
[9] Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic,
cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons in ambient air. OJ EC No. L 23 (2005), p. 3;
perm. amend. Directive 2015/1480/EU, OJ EC No. L 226
(2015),
S. 4
[10] Thirty-ninth Ordinance on the Implementation of the
Federal Immission Control Act - Ordinance on Air
Quality Standards and Emission Ceilings
(39th BImSchV) of August 2, 2010. BGBl. I (2010), p. 1065;
as amended. BGBl. I (2016), p. 2244
[11] Air quality guidelines for Europe. WHO Regional Publica-
tions, European Series, No. 23. ed.: World Health Organi-
zation, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen 1987.
[12] WHO Air Quality Guidelines for Europe. 2nd ed. WHO
Regional Publications, European Series, No. 91. Ed:
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe,
Copenhagen 2000
http://www.euro.who.int/ data/assets/pdf_
file/0005/74732/E71922.pdf
[13] WHO Air Quality Guidelines for particulate matter, ozone,
nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Published by the
World Health Organization, Geneva 2006.
http://www.euro.who.int/ data/assets/pdf_
file/0005/78638/E90038.pdf
[14] WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and
mould. Ed.: World Health Organization, Regional Office
for Europe, Copenhagen 2009.
http://www.euro.who.int/ data/assets/pdf_
file/0017/43325/E92645.pdf.
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